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Rhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail

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Alivia Beckley Mrs. Salaba English 10 Honors 23 January 2023 Audience and Appeals Being arrested for peaceful protesting against racism has happened to many great people, such as Rosa Parks, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King was a civil rights activist, theologist, and is a great man of history. His most well-known speech, “I have a dream”, is an encouraging and passionate fight for equality which was presented in front of more than 200,000 equality hungry people. His most popular letter, “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, which is directed towards clergymen in defense of fellow civil rights activists, has a stern and prepared attitude towards his audience. In his argumentative letter and his speech, King has different appeals, and different audience which portray different emotions. …show more content…

These clergymen deemed his organized group activities as “unwise and untimely.” (King, 1963). These men, who at the time had higher power over King due to their race, were unwelcoming and racist, which caused King to need firm and calm but strongly expressed arguments. King’s speech, on the other hand, is positive and powerful with a direct audience to speak to instead of a letter. His speech has an optimistic tone towards his audience as he quickly claims his happiness towards the gathering and his certainty of the impact he would make with “…the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.” (King, 1963). It is noticeable that the consumer of King’s work effects his words, while both works are moving and confident, critical clergymen cause his work to have a stern voice and factual evidence, while hopeful people waiting for inspiration cause his work to be relaxed and more relatable for his audience. The audience in both Dr. Kings letter and speech greatly impact the way he articulates his words and the appeals he

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In the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, he uses logos and pathos to effectively argue nonviolent protest movement is wise and timely.   In his first point, Martin Luther King Jr. says that it is historical truth that groups with privileges often do not give those up by themselves. In the second part, Martin Luther King Jr. says that he has always heard the word wait when talking about gaining their freedoms, but he thinks that the wait means never.

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From the third paragraph of his letter, King uses a pitiful and emotional argument to persuade his audience. He is ensuring himself that his audience is listening and will be moved and touched. The sentence, “Beyond this, I’m in Birmingham because injustice is here” explains the real reason he is in Birmingham. He says that they were invited by local affiliates from Birmingham because they wanted him and his organization, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to participate in a nonviolent direct-action program that was going on in Birmingham yet he ended up in jail. He continues to compare himself to Apostle Paul.

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In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr., he explains to the eight clergy men, whom had previously criticized him, and to the rest of America about why he is in Birmingham. King wrote this letter to persuade and answer the criticism of why his present activities were NOT “unwise and untimely.” While writing this, King uses the three Aristotelian Appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos to fully explain his points. Throughout the second paragraph, Martin Luther King began to build his credibility.

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Civil disobedience is the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest. In the Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, he writes about his wrongful imprisonment. He tries to convince the eight white clergymen who said his actions were “unwise and untimely” that his actions were the opposite. King uses ethos and pathos to persuade the 8 white clergymen that the time is right for equality. In the letter, King uses his ethos to portray himself as a credible person to trust.

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In Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. King writes to the clergymen to defend his nonviolent actions. He goes on to show that his actions are justified and that it's time to move forward from all the injustices toward African-American people just because of the colors of their skin. Dr.King defends his peaceful protests and stated that they can no longer wait, and that is not right that clergymen think they should wait, when they have not been in the position and have felt the discrimination. Dr. King uses emotional, ethical and, logical appeal to convince the clergymen that his actions are wise and justified. Dr. King uses emotional appeal, to try to persuade the clergymen that he is not an extremist as it is being said he is.

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Ariel Medina Professor Darvay English 1302 25 February 2023 King the Rhetorical Genius Martin Luther King was a man who knew how to speak to people and not just with politeness or manners. When he gave speeches he was able to deliver a message that would leave a lasting impact. Not only was Martin Luther King able to reach people in his speeches but also through his writing one for example being his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. The most persuasive part of the letter is paragraph eleven. In paragraph eleven, King is not only able to invoke sympathy from others but also is able to clearly explain to the readers why they are beginning to strive towards achieving equality.

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At the end of his letter he addresses the clergymen " I also hope that circumstances will soon make it possible for me to meet each of you, not as an integrationist or a civil rights leader, but as a fellow clergymen and a Christian brother" (paragraph 7). This statement makes a claim the king wants to meet these seven clergymen in person and speak about the issues he wrote in this letter. Another rhetorical tool king uses in his letter are similes. This rhetorical tool helps king compare two things and address the point as he sees it. " Over the last few years I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek" (paragraph 3).

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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” (King, Jr.). Martin Luther King Jr. exceeded this “measure of a man” during his civil rights acts as a strong soldier in a very volatile time. During this time of “challenge and controversy” King made himself heard in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In some of his civil rights acts that occurred in Birmingham, resulted in him ending up in jail. During his time in jail, he wrote his also famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

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60 years ago Dr Martin Luther King wrote “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” in response to a criticism letter he received for his protesting for civil rights. Dr King was jailed for his peaceful protest in Birmingham on Easter weekend about equal rights for people of color. In doing this, he upset some clergymen who did not believe his protest was timely or wise. Dr King wrote this letter using different language devices to prove his protest was done in a timely manner and that it was a wise decision on his part. Dr King was originally criticized for not having a purpose being in Birmingham.

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"Letter from Birmingham Jail" reviews a dissent against Martin Luther King Jr. 's detainment for peaceful resistance to persecution. In the letter, he commands a unified front against racial bias in addition to communicating his craving to utilize ethos to battle for human rights. Similarly, he utilizes pathos to get close to home reaction from his readers and afterward seeks from them permission to make a move. King Jr. applies dissimilar consistent thinking to explain further his viewpoint and the justification for battling racial discrimination. The tone of the letter is pondering, expecting to capture the attention of both the individuals who are being taken advantage of and the people who are being mistreated.

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is written in response to a letter written by clergymen that were dealing with racial problems in Alabama. The clergymen said King's approach to segregation incites the extreme measures of hatred and violence. King’s letter showed the clergymen that the steps to desegregate the South were the most effective, and beneficial ways to come about the situation. In the letter, Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetorical devices to effectively appeal to his audience’s ethos, pathos, and logos. King uses allusions, imagery, and metaphors to effectively appeal to the clergyman.

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While in solitary confinement for nearly 8 days, reverend and social justice activist, Martin Luther King Jr., wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail in response to the criticism he received for his non-violent protests. Several clergy who negatively critiqued King’s approach of seeking justice, wrote A Call for Unity, arguing that his protests were senseless and improper. Within the article, the clergymen provide nine different critiques that asserted how King’s protest are invalid, uneffective, and simply unintelligent in the fight for obtaining justice and equity for individuals of color. His letter has become one of the most profound pieces of literature of the 20th century, as King uses vivid examples and eloquent rhetorical devices to counter all nine arguments.

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King uses pathos to tap into his audience’s mind to think about the importance of promoting action now rather than waiting for others to promote it first. He ends his letter by stating that he “hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation”. (King Jr., p. 658) Dr. King is a man of great integrity and love. He wanted to bring his fellow brother and sister together as a nation strong and not divided.

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Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong leader in the Civil Rights movement, the son and grandson of a minister, and one heck of a letter writer. As he sits in a cell of Birmingham Jail in 1963, he responds to criticism from eight white clergymen. Though this letter was intended for the judgemental and condescending men of high faith, his response touched the hearts and minds of the entire U.S. population, then, and for years to come. In his tear-jerking, mind-opening letter, King manages to completely discredit every claim made by the clergymen while keeping a polite and formal tone. Metaphors, allusions, and rhetorical questions are used in the most skillful way to support his argument and ultimately convince his audience of the credibility behind his emotional, yet factual, claims.

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African Americans have been denied their constitutional rights for three centuries, or three hundred and forty years, prior to the implementation of segregation in the United States. This time period includes the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and slavery. African American leaders soon began to speak out for social change and the advancement of civil rights in society as a result of the denial of their rights, but their efforts were frequently met with hostility and violence from those who wanted to keep things as they were. During his time in Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was forced to face these harsh realities and the terrible realization that his efforts to create change might be in vain. In his “Letter from Birmingham

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